While the majority (66 percent) of Americans continue to be optimistic about their health, minority communities have unique and distinct health concerns and barriers to reaching their ideal health, according to PhRMA’s Second Annual National Health Survey.

Clinical trials are the primary means of testing the safety and efficacy of new medicines. The data generated from rigorous, highly controlled trials form the basis of regulatory decisions about whether to approve the treatment for use by patients.

It was like delivering a death sentence. When HIV/AIDS cases started appearing 30 years ago, and effective ways to combat or manage the deadly disease didn't exist, dealing with a positive HIV test with a patient was a harrowing experience for physician and patient alike.

Those afflicted soon felt isolated by an epidemic fraught with myths and misunderstood by a fearful society. But fast forward 33 years.

Looking back at the past 25 years of HIV/AIDS treatment, the progress that has been made can only be described as tremendous. Since 1995, with the development of the first protease inhibitors, the death rate in the U.S. from HIV/AIDS decreased by 83 percent.

Working with our tremendous partners in academia, research and community activism is one of the most rewarding things we do at PhRMA. This year, at the 3rd Annual Research and Hope Awards ceremony on September 10, we will celebrate the inspiring stories of individuals who have helped advance the fight against HIV/AIDS. And their efforts are worth admiring.

Astellas US President Jim Robinson said in a guest post this week, “We are on the cusp of amazing progress in U.S. biopharmaceutical research and development,” and he is right. With more than 3,400 medicines in development in the U.S., patients are seeing new treatments bring hope for the future. Thanks to innovation, we are helping more patients than ever before.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Commerce released two new reports detailing the extraordinary impact that exports have on our economy. The new data revealed that exports supported more than 11 million jobs within the U.S.

While the majority of Americans (66 percent) report they have had a good year when it comes to their personal health, that hasn’t necessarily been the case for all of us, particularly for those dealing with certain chronic health issues.

We are on the cusp of amazing progress in U.S. biopharmaceutical research and development, but without policies that help attract and retain research-based companies and partnerships to help bring new medicines to patients, we run the risk of losing our country’s competitive advantage.

Today, Americans can do almost everything online. With a few clicks, we can manage our bank accounts, order groceries and book vacations. We can even manage components of our health and health care by scheduling doctor appointments online, ordering prescription refills and comparing test results.

It’s likely many of us have paused to think about what life would have been like in a bygone time and felt thankful for the modern comforts we enjoy, from refrigeration to cell phones. When looking at the progress we’ve made and the comforts we enjoy, medical innovation should be at the top of the list.